Mobile Cybercrime in South Africa

**Executive Summary:** The report highlights rising mobile cybercrime affecting South Africans, reporting the arrest of twelve suspects linked to an international scam syndicate and describing common scams (SMS lottery and fake payout messages) that coerce victims into depositing funds; it cites 2024 statistics showing 48% of mobile users globally have experienced mobile cybercrime and that over 60% of South Africans do not use basic mobile security measures. The piece also outlines emerging threats (mobile/financial malware, APTs, risks from removable devices and local networks) and provides practical mitigation steps including updating apps, using mobile security solutions, avoiding suspicious links, enabling two-factor authentication, and securing devices.